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Rodgers hails starlets despite goalless draw against Stoke City

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has heaped praise on the Reds’ young starlets for their performances against Stoke City at Anfield on Sunday.

The Merseysiders were held to a goalless draw by Tony Pulis’ resilient Stoke City side, who have only lost one of their seven English Premier League matches this season.

“We’re obviously disappointed we didn’t win the game, I thought the attitude and the application of the players was terrific,” Rodgers told reporters.

“We stood up to the real physicality of the game, which was a big plus. If you can play against Stoke physically, especially with so many young players in the team and so many technicians, then you know you’re going to be alright in your other games.

“I thought as the game wore on we got into good spaces and areas of the field but just that final touch or final decision at the end of it didn’t quite allow us to score.

“So we’re disappointed not to win but as I said there were a lot of real positives from the game and our first clean sheet of the season which is important.”

The goalless draw gave Rodgers and Liverpool their sixth point of the season, while simultaneously keeping the Reds without a home victory through four matches at Anfield.

The Reds currently sit in 14th position in the league table, 13 points behind top-of-the-table Chelsea and nine points behind Manchester United and defending league champions Manchester City.

On the other side of the touchline, Stoke City boss Tony Pulis was pleased with his side’s performance against Liverpool at Anfield.

Stoke have earned three draws in their last five trips to Anfield in the Premier League, but three points seems to be eluding the Potters when they are in the Merseyside.

In other news — earlier this week — Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard revealed that Liverpool was targeting a top four finish and a trophy this season.

When asked if the aforementioned goals were still attainable, Gerrard said: “Yes. We’re six games in. The Norwich win will be the catalyst to push us on.

“I think teams will find it really difficult to play against us and I’m confident we can go on a run of winning games.”

Well, the Reds’ chances of finishing in the top four took a big hit on Sunday. With that said, I really doubt Liverpool will be competing for UEFA Champions League football in the latter stages of the 2012-13 Premier League season.

This is simply not their year, as they say. However, there have been a few positives for the Reds this season.

For example, the club have not overspent in the transfer window under Brendan Rodgers.

Kenny Dalglish spent over £70 million to bring the likes of Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing — who has yet to record a goal or an assist in 39 league appearances since joining Liverpool — to Anfield in 2011.

It is simply undeniable, Dalglish completed a managerial howler in the transfer window, and Liverpool are suffering the consequences of his actions at the moment.